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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 11 · Chapter 5: Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

11.5.23 11.5.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.5.24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śrī Karabhājanasince 11.5.20inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → VasudevaThe nine Yogendras → King Nimi

त्रेतायां रक्तवर्णोऽसौ चतुर्बाहुस्त्रिमेखल: ।

हिरण्यकेशस्त्रय्यात्मा स्रुक्स्रुवाद्युपलक्षण: ॥ २४ ॥

tretāyāṁ rakta-varṇo ’sau

catur-bāhus tri-mekhalaḥ

hiraṇya-keśas trayy-ātmā

sruk-sruvādy-upalakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

In Tretā-yuga the Lord appears with a red complexion. He has four arms, golden hair, and wears a triple belt representing initiation into each of the three Vedas. Embodying the knowledge of worship by sacrificial performance, which is contained in the Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur Vedas, His symbols are the ladle, spoon and other implements of sacrifice.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Introduces Worship Through Sacrifice

1
In Tretā-yuga, the Lord appears with a red complexion, four arms and golden hair. His triple belt represents initiation into the three Vedas.
2
The Lord embodies the knowledge of sacrificial worship contained in the Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur Vedas. His symbols include the ladle, spoon and other implements of sacrifice.
3
The sruk pours ghee into the sacrifice, while the smaller sruva can pour ghee into the sruk or directly into the fire. These symbols accompany the Lord’s introduction of yajña, or sacrifice, as the religious practice for Tretā-yuga.

Key points from the purport

The sruk is a particular implement for pouring ghee in sacrifices.
It is made of khadira wood, is smaller than the sruk and is used to pour ghee into the sruk.
It is also sometimes used instead of the sruk to pour ghee directly into the sacrificial fire.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 5: Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In Tretā-yuga He is red in color and four-armed, is the personification of sacrifice, is characterized by the symbols of the sacrificial spoon, ladle, etc., is called by such names as Yajña and is worshiped by Vedic sacrifices. In Dvāpara-yuga He is of dark blue complexion, wears a yellow garment, is marked by Śrīvatsa and other signs, has such names as Vāsudeva and is worshiped in His Deity form by the regulations of the Vedas and tantras.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.5

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tretāyāmin Tretā-yuga
rakta-varṇaḥred-complexioned
asauHe
catuḥ-bāhuḥfour-armed
tri-mekhalaḥwearing three belts (representing three phases of Vedic initiation)
hiraṇya-keśaḥhaving golden hair
trayi-ātmāpersonifying the knowledge of the three Vedas
sruk-sruva-ādithe sacrificial wooden ladle, spoon and so on
upalakṣaṇaḥhaving as His symbols

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Īśānukathā · The science of God
Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.5
In this verse: “worship”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.5
In this verse: “knowledge”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.5
In this verse: “religious”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that the Lord introduces sacrifice help you see it as worship of Him?

Practice

Reread the description of the Lord’s form, remembering that His sacrificial implements point to worship of Him.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Introduces Worship Through SacrificeThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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